Best Headphones 2015

Your music, movies and games deserve better than those hard, standard-issue plastic earbuds. And we're not just talking about audio quality. Some headphones are great at blocking out noise, while others have Bluetooth built in for rocking out sans wires. You'll even find some models with an integrated heart-rate monitor to make the most of your workout. Whatever style you're looking for, Tom's Guide has the perfect set of buds or cans for your budget.

How We Evaluate Headphones

In order to help you make the right choice when shopping for headphones, Tom's Guide evaluates the following criteria: design, comfort, features, performance and value. We compare headphones with other products that have similar features and are in the same price range, so you can make the most informed shopping decision.

Using several sample tracks across a number of genres (hip-hop, rock, jazz and R&B), we listen for volume, clarity and fullness. We test the effectiveness of three features: active noise-cancelling, Bluetooth range and battery life. Once we've completed our testing, we then rate headphones based on our 5-star system (1 = worst, 5 = best). If a product is truly exemplary, it will earn an Editor's Choice.

To help you get the most out of your entertainment, here are the best options available, from $30 earbuds to $1,000 audiophile-grade headphones.

Bose QuietComfort 25

Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones

These aren't your dad's headphones. Bose has retired the popular QuietComfort 15s in favor of the new QuietComfort 25 headphones -- a sleeker, more functional version of its predecessor. The QC 25s deliver improved active noise-cancelling technology, refined audio quality and up to 35 hours of battery life. And in the event you don't have a battery, the QC 25 can play sans charge. Throw in a sexy, redesigned frame (one you can customize) and you've got noise cancelling cans that grownups and cool kids alike can enjoy. Read the Full Review

Technical Specifications

Fit :

Over-Ear

Bluetooth :

No

Noise-Cancellation :

Active

Microphone :

Yes

V-Moda XS Headphones

Best On-Ear Headphones

V-MODA's bespoke approach to audio continues to impress. Outfitting the XS On-Ear headphones in leather and aluminum, the cans are both stylish and durable. Fashion-conscious music lovers can customize the XS with a pair of custom earplates. In terms of audio, the XS deliver loud, balanced audio, complete with rich bass and clear vocals. Read the Full Review

Technical Specifications

Fit :

On-Ear

Bluetooth :

No

Noise-Cancellation :

Passive

Microphone :

Yes

Plantronics BackBeat Pro Wireless Headphones

Best Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

The BackBeat Pros don't just packs great-sounding audio into a comfy pair of Bluetooth headphones. These cans also deliver effective active noise-cancelling technology, a range of up to 300 feet and up to 24 hours of battery life with continuous playing capability. Plus, you can easily switch between a phone and tablet for listening. Add in the ability to control how much ambient noise you hear, and you have a pair of headphones that are practically perfect for travelers and techies alike. Read the Full Review

Technical Specifications

Fit :

Over-Ear

Bluetooth :

Yes

Noise-Cancellation :

Active

Microphone :

Yes

Jabra Move Wireless Headphones

Best Wireless Headphones Under $100

Bargain never looked — or sounded so good. The $99 Jabra Move Wireless Headphones are a great choice for music lovers who want good sound quality without breaking the bank. The Moves offer loud, balanced audio with a colorful, dirt-resistant frame. The memory foam ear cups allow for hours of comfortable use. The easy-to-reach controls on the wireless cans makes adjusting volume or switch between songs effortless. Even better, the headphones offer a range of over 100 feet with approximately 8 hours of battery life. Read the Full Review

Technical Specifications

Fit :

Over-Ear

Bluetooth :

Yes

Noise-Cancellation :

Passive

Microphone :

Yes

Blue Mo-Fi Headphones

Best Over-Ear Headphones

Get amped! Blue, the company famous for making USB microphones, is turning the headphone market on its head with the Mo-Fi headphones. Sporting a funky, industrial style, these over-ear headphones are the first to feature a built-in, audiophile-grade 240-milliwatt amplifier, effectively delivering audio that is full, crisp and balanced. Best of all, the headphones support lossless audio files, so you can hear every note of your favorite tunes. Read the Full Review

Technical Specifications

Fit :

Over-Ear

Bluetooth :

No

Noise-Cancellation :

Passive

Microphone :

Yes

SMS Audio BioSport Wired Earbuds with Heart Monitor

Best Headphones for Running

A fitness band or a pair of durable in-ear headphones? Why not have both? SMS Audio has teamed with Intel to create the BioSport Wired Earbuds, a set of in-ear headphones with a heart monitor built inside. Using a built-in optical sensor, the sweat- and water-resistant buds keep track of your pulse and eliminate the noise caused by your body's movement — all while delivering your motivating workout playlist. The buds work in tandem with many of the leading fitness apps. That includes RunKeeper Elite, which is convenient since the BioSports come with a free month of the RunKeeper Elite service.

Technical Specifications

Fit :

In-Ear

Bluetooth :

No

Noise-Cancellation :

Noise-Isolation

Microphone :

No

Sennheiser HD25 Aluminum

Best DJ Headphones

The latest edition of Sennheiser’'s widely respected HD25 is crafted from aluminum for a more elegant look. The metal also warms up the already impressive sound, especially on the low end, so critical to a good DJ. The HD25s are very sturdy, and the dual-arm headband stays in place no matter how hard you’'re bouncing around

Technical Specifications

Fit :

On-Ear

Bluetooth :

No

Noise-Cancellation :

Passive

Microphone :

No

id America New Metropolitan

Best Earbuds Under $50

Given their sound quality and comfort at a sub-$30 price, we can’'t help but recommend these as the best of the cheap earbuds if you’'re looking to replace your device’'s stock earbuds. They have an inline one-button remote/mic and come with comfy memory foam eartips that block out sound well.

Technical Specifications

Fit :

In-Ear

Bluetooth :

No

Noise-Cancellation :

Noise-Isolating

Microphone :

Yes

Shure SE846

Best Splurge Headphones

Shure’'s new flagship in-ear headphones sound amazing with any type of music and edge out similarly priced competitors with detachable cables, excellent noise isolation, and solid construction. This is as good as it gets outside of custom-molded in-ear monitors.

Technical Specifications

Fit :

In-Ear

Bluetooth :

No

Noise-Cancellation :

Noise-Isolation

Microphone :

No

Sennheiser Momemtum Wireless Headphones

New and Notable

Say hello to the latest members of the wire-cutting family. Sennheiser is launching wireless versions of its popular Momentum line of headphones. Available in on- and over-ear varieties, the Momentums are proof that Bluetooth doesn't mean a downgrade in audio quality. Thanks to apt-X codec, both iterations of the headphones delivered the clear, punchy audio you've come to associate with Sennheiser -- all in a premium lightweight frame. The active noise cancellation is also quite strong, with up 22 hours of listening time on a charge.

Wow, what a vacuous list that does not include good sounding headphones!Where is Grado? Where is B&W? Where is NuForce?This is like list of best beers that are limited Budweiser, Miler, and coors. Jeezzz.....

How can we trust an article about headphones which puts Bose headphones right at the top and doesn't mention a single option from Etymotic Research!

The awesome ER-4 series may be 20 years old, but they are still are amongst the most transparent reference-quality earphones you can buy at any price. Meanwhile the amazing hf2's bring close to the same reference-quality transparency to your smartphone headset! When passive noise isolation is as good as it is with the Ety's you rarely need active noise cancellation.

Even if their neutral, transparent sound is not to your liking, they should at least be mentioned as an option.

I'm both old and old-fashioned. I've been using the Sony MDR- V6 and 7506 headphones since they came on the market and my originals are still in daily use after a few ear pad foam replacements. I've listened to several consumer and professional headphone offerings over the years and none of them have been compelling enough to switch from my Sony's. I was talking with a friend the other day who was the head audio engineer for Miramax before he retired about our old professional gear compared to what's on the market today. We both own small recording studios and have a collection of vintage pro equipment. We agreed that not only is 99% of what's marketed today sold on hype not actual performance none of it is going to last 30+ years or longer like our personal favorite equipment that we still have in use has. Add to that the highly compressed audio and formats such as mp3 that only give a fraction of the original audio signal and the end result is few people today really have experienced true high-end audio sound reproduction. As a radio station broadcast engineer and recording engineer I do have a bit of experience in this field.

why only over ear bt and not a on ear bt?
This way you cut out the Fidelio M2BT which are as good if not better than the Plantronics (I have tested both and kept the Fidelio for having more punch and more warmth even if less soundstage).

Got the Parrot Ziks for much cheaper than $400 on Amazon using Amon Deal Finder (just google it). They have a gold widget on the homepage that will spit out the top discounts for any item that can be found on Amazon. I never shop on Amazon without using this tool. They always have discounts on any item that I look for.

I'm very excited to see the sennheisers as best DJ headphones. That happens to be my main occupation and the first headphones I used for DJing. I eventually bought the Amperiors (Which at times can be cheaper [$] then the HD25s which are a model below), which have a flatter response. A great go to for referencing a production within any DAW.

At any rate keep the 25's for djing as they are a bit lighter than the Amperiors.

If you want headphones for running, the ACTIVE X headphones by REVERB are by far the best I have ever used. Well worth the money, I bought them at a marathon expo and threw away the 10 other pairs I bought before them. 1) they will NOT fall out, I am a gymnastics teacher and I can do anything in these headphones. Give me a plane I will jump out, but my headphones will stay on Super comfortable, and LOUD. Small company, super cool guys that own it, ones a country artist in nashville and the others a song writer. rockreverb.com